US stands alone against 164 countries – New world map sparks controversy

The US was the only country to vote against a new resolution on the world map at the UN General Assembly.

TodayPress TV reports, citing Reuters, that the resolution was supported by 164 countries. Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Serbia, Lithuania and Estonia abstained.

The document promotes depicting Africa and other regions of the world on maps in a way that more closely reflects their actual sizes. The initiative was put forward amid discussions over the fact that Africa is often depicted as smaller than it actually is on maps.

The US representative to the UN called for the resolution to be rejected ahead of the vote. Washington considers the initiative part of a broader ideological agenda and believes it could divert the UN’s attention from issues of international peace and security.

Activists behind the initiative, meanwhile, argue that the map projection developed by Gerardus Mercator in the 16th century depicts Africa as significantly smaller than its actual size and reinforces stereotypes about the continent.

Thus, in the vote over the world map, the US stood alone against 164 countries.

Turkan Iskandarli